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Fifty Families Help Fresno Chaffee Zoo Go Solar With SunPower

FRESNO, Calif., Dec. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR), a leading solar technology and global energy services provider, and Fresno-based SunPower Elite Dealer Pacific Solar announced today that they are donating a solar power system to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, thanks to the first 50 Fresno area households that bought or financed SunPower systems during the company's " Let's Solar Fresno" campaign that launched in August.

As part of the campaign, SunPower and Pacific Solar agreed to donate one high efficiency solar panel to the zoo for each SunPower system sold or leased in Fresno in August, up to a total of 50 panels, and a majority of the cost of the installation.

"We're grateful to the first 50 Fresno families who chose to go solar with SunPower and, as a result, are helping Fresno Chaffee Zoo go solar as well," said Terri Mejorado, director of marketing at Fresno Chaffee Zoo. "We expect the system will allow us to lower our electricity bills, and use those savings to enhance the programs and services we offer the community."

The donated system will be composed of 50 high-efficiency SunPower solar panels, the most efficient and reliable solar panels available on the market today.

"I'm impressed by how quickly Fresno families met this challenge to enable the zoo to benefit from clean, renewable solar power," said Dave Wasemiller of Pacific Solar. "SunPower panels deliver more energy in less space, maximizing savings and peace of mind. This is an amazing opportunity for our community."

The SunPower system will be installed in two arrays, one on the zoo's education department building and one on the sea lion exhibit, "Sea Lion Cove." According to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the system is expected to offset the production of almost 13 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is equivalent to the automobile emissions produced through the consumption of about 1,300 gallons of gasoline.